Back pain can appear suddenly after lifting something heavy, develop gradually after long hours at a desk, or seem to arrive without an obvious cause. For some people, it settles quickly. For others, it starts interfering with work, exercise, sleep and everyday movement. So, when is it time to stop hoping it will disappear on its own and consider seeing a physiotherapist? Your Back Pain Is Not Improving Minor episodes of back pain often improve over time, but persistent pain should not simply be ignored. If your back continues to feel sore, stiff or restricted, a physiotherapist can assess your movement and help identify factors that may be contributing to the problem. Rather than focusing only on where it hurts, physiotherapy can consider how you move, your strength, mobility, workload and other factors that may be influencing your symptoms. Pain Is Affecting Your Daily Activities Back pain does not have to be severe before you seek help. You may notice that sitting through a wor...